Every organisation faces risk. Whether it’s an operational failure, cyberattack, or political unrest, what matters most isn’t if risk exists — it’s how you control it.
The risk control process is the structured method organisations use to identify, evaluate, and manage potential threats before they cause harm. Done properly, it turns uncertainty into foresight — and foresight into safety.
The risk control process is part of the wider risk management framework. It focuses specifically on reducing the likelihood and impact of risks that have already been identified.
Think of it as the action phase of risk management — the point where analysis turns into prevention. The goal is not to eliminate every risk, but to control them in ways that keep people safe, protect assets, and maintain operational continuity.
You can’t control what you don’t know exists. The first step is to identify every realistic risk that could affect your business.
This means looking beyond the obvious. Operational hazards, supply chain vulnerabilities, regional instability, or even reputational threats can all be part of the picture.
NGS often conducts comprehensive risk assessments for clients using ISO 31000 and STRM frameworks. These combine on-the-ground intelligence, local expertise, and predictive tools like Aurora, helping you see what others might miss.
Once risks are identified, assess how likely they are to occur and how severe their consequences could be.
This step transforms lists into priorities. A low-probability but high-impact risk (like a natural disaster) may deserve more attention than a frequent, low-impact issue (like minor equipment faults).
Tools such as risk matrices and scoring models make these judgments more objective and repeatable — creating the foundation for consistent, defensible decisions.
After ranking your risks, determine what control measures are needed. These may include:
Preventive controls – actions that reduce the chance of the risk happening (e.g. employee training, system redundancies).
Detective controls – measures that identify risks early, such as monitoring tools or inspections.
Corrective controls – steps that limit damage after an incident, like evacuation or recovery plans.
In practice, effective control blends all three. For example, Aurora’s live tracking and SIREN communication tools act as both preventive and detective controls — alerting teams before risks escalate and allowing immediate action when they do.
Controls only work if they’re understood and applied consistently. This stage focuses on implementation — assigning ownership, training staff, and embedding processes into daily operations.
For travelling or remote staff, this might involve safety briefings, secure transport arrangements, and telemedicine access. For fixed operations, it might mean physical security upgrades or structured emergency drills.
Communication is key. Every person involved needs to know their role in reducing risk, who to contact, and how to escalate incidents.
The risk control process doesn’t end once controls are in place. Risks evolve — and so should your defences.
Regular monitoring ensures controls remain effective as conditions change. Periodic reviews should ask:
Are controls still practical and relevant?
Have new risks emerged?
Is the organisation learning from past incidents?
Continuous improvement is what separates reactive organisations from resilient ones. By analysing trends through tools like Aurora and STRM, leaders can refine policies, update response protocols, and strengthen their overall risk culture.
Following a structured risk control process saves time, reduces cost, and strengthens compliance. It also proves to regulators, insurers, and employees that your organisation takes safety seriously.
More importantly, it builds trust. Staff know they’re protected. Stakeholders know you’re prepared. And leadership can make confident, informed decisions even in uncertain conditions.
Risk control isn’t paperwork — it’s protection in motion.
When supported by NGS’s technology and expertise, the process becomes proactive rather than reactive. Whether through Aurora’s real-time insights, SIREN’s instant communication, or telemedicine and secure transport during emergencies, every stage connects back to one purpose: safeguarding your people and operations.
